Tesla’s Robotaxi service has officially launched in the San Francisco area, marking the second city where Tesla’s driverless Model Ys can now be hailed after Austin, Texas. However, due to Tesla not having obtained all the necessary regulatory approvals in California, the San Francisco Robotaxis will have safety drivers behind the wheel.
The expansion of the Robotaxi service to San Francisco comes after its successful launch in Austin last month. Just like in Austin, the service area in San Francisco is limited, and access is currently on an invite-only basis. Tesla owners, influencers, and investors are among the first to receive invitations to hail a Tesla Robotaxi in the Bay Area.
Unlike in Austin, where a safety monitor sits in the front passenger seat, San Francisco Robotaxis have a safety driver behind the steering wheel. This is a temporary measure until Tesla secures all the regulatory approvals required by the state of California to offer paid driverless taxi rides. The service area in San Francisco includes Berkeley, Hayward, Fremont, and San Jose, in addition to the city itself.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, had previously announced that the Robotaxi service would expand to the Bay Area in a month or two, depending on regulatory approvals. Despite not having all the necessary paperwork in place, the service went live ahead of schedule. While Tesla holds a transportation charter permit from the California Public Utilities Commission, allowing it to transport people in a non-autonomous vehicle with a driver, the company has yet to apply for the permits required to test and deploy driverless taxis in the state.
In a bid to ensure safety and compliance with regulations, Tesla has opted to have safety drivers in the San Francisco Robotaxis, offering a level of assurance to passengers. The company continues to work towards obtaining all the necessary approvals to eventually offer fully autonomous rides in the future.
Overall, the launch of the Tesla Robotaxi service in San Francisco represents a significant step towards the future of autonomous transportation, showcasing Tesla’s commitment to innovation and pushing the boundaries of technology in the automotive industry. With safety as a top priority, Tesla is paving the way for a new era of transportation that could revolutionize the way we travel in urban environments.